Updated: Manufactured home applicants withdraw request in City Council again

Joseph Basco

Published 3:18 pm, Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Photo: Tim Fischer

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Photo: Tim Fischer

Updated: Manufactured home applicants withdraw request in City Council again

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

A manufactured home park proposed for Midland's east side experienced another delay Tuesday, as Freedom Influence LLC once again withdrew its request at the suggestion of the City Council.

During a public hearing, council members questioned -- as they did at previous meetings -- whether a "C-3," or commercial district, zone is an appropriate use of the land where the park is planned. The general location is on the west side of Fairgrounds Road, approximately 600 feet north of East Cuthbert Avenue, according to the council agenda.

At its last meeting on Jan. 22, the council heard a request from Freedom Influence to change a section of the property they own from a "2F," or two family dwelling district, to a C-3 district.

Brant Greathouse, co-owner of the planned Stone Bridge Estates, withdrew his application that day because council members said they weren't planning to approve the change.

Greathouse said the process to build Stone Bridge Estates began May 14 of last year. He said it takes about 90 days to get a single-use permit for homes.

"This is a good use of the land," Greathouse said. "Housing is needed, and we're providing affordable housing."

During the meeting, District 2 representative John Love III said the council and staff should not "sell out" to affordable housing.

"Housing is needed, but I don't want to lax the city code to bring more housing," Love said to clarify his statement during the meeting.

Upon questions from Love, Cameron Walker, director of city planning, said he doesn't recall any manufactured home parks built outside District 2 but there are several in the district, including another one approved Tuesday on the same road as the proposed Stone Bridge Estates.

Love said he does not know why all the manufactured home parks are concentrated within District 2, but said it is not a negative.

"Some mobile home parks are a welcome addition," Love said. "But some may have problems such as crime, drugs and high police activity. As one applicant of another park said, it depends on how it is operated."

Before Greathouse withdrew his request, the council suggested he go through the process once again and re-submit a new plan that would address some of the issues the council pointed out.

The council questioned the unpaved state of Tilden Street and the proposed entrances for the manufactured home park.

According to the PowerPoint slides presented during the meeting, the proposed entrances to the manufactured home park would be through the 2F zone parallel to Tilden Street. Another entrance, through a private road in the middle of the property, was proposed but it was not the plan proposed to the council Tuesday. Hence, the council suggested Freedom Influence withdraw its request and remake a new plan for the property.

Members of Freedom Influence attempted to play video and audio testimonies of people in support of Stone Bride Estates, but Mayor Wes Perry said the people either have to be present or submit a letter. At one point, several people stood up to show support for the park.

One person who spoke, Dan Nicholas, said Stone Bridge Estates should be built because affordable housing is needed in Midland and the park could increase the tax base.

But others in attendance spoke against the proposed park.

David Diaz, executive director of the Midland Community Development Corp., said he does not support the park because he has heard from residents living in the area who would prefer single-family housing as opposed to manufactured home parks.

When asked why the council approved another manufactured home park Tuesday but did not vote on his own park, Greathouse said it was "political" but would not elaborate any further.

In other business, the council:

-- approved on second reading a manufactured home park on the east side of North Fairgrounds Road, approximately 900 feet south of East Gulf Course Road.

Stonegate Manufactured Home Community, by Newton Engineering, received a specific-use permit for the park but was not granted a deferral for sidewalk pavement, which would have been $12,521. The total cost for the sidewalk paving is $16,695.

Chase Gardaphe, the applicant and owner of Stonegate Manufactured Home Community, said the park could have about 172 homes. The prices vary because the property will rent land to people and some may already own a manufactured home, he said.

Unlike the resolution for Stone Bridge Estates, which requested a single-use permit under a C-3 zone, Stonegate Manufactured Home Community requested the permit within an "AE," or agriculture estate district.

Gardaphe said he would not comment on Freedom Influence's situation but did say the location is a budding area of growth and he is excited for the opportunity to be in the area.

-- approved on an appeal by D. R. Horton for a subdivision west of the Scharbauer Sports complex that does not feature alleys and contains oil wells within the property.

Previously, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-4 on the Legends Park neighborhood, which resulted in the motion not being passed.

During the council meeting, members questioned how oil operators would drive to the wells located within the neighborhood. Eric West, engineer for Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, said the vehicles would have to drive through the neighborhood roads, but added that future housing developers who want to build on the west side of Midland will have to contend with building around oil wells.

"This is the world we now live in," West said.

Michael Trost, District 4 representative, said the council viewed this neighborhood positively compared to the Planning and Zoning Commission but was wary of roadway issues for oil wells nearby or within neighborhoods.

-- considered a resolution for a $4,427,477.23 contract with Reese Albert Inc. for the city's 2013 Mill/Overlay project. The contract also includes a 10 percent contingent fee, which could bring the cost up to about $4.9 million, said David Beard, city engineer.

Some of the roads that will be repaved will be Lamesa Road between Dormand Avenue and Wadley Avenue, and Fairgrounds Roads between 1901 Fairgrounds Road and 2799 Fairgrounds Road, in addition to three streets not included in the base bid: Ohio Avenue, Cimarron Drive and Midkiff Road, according to the resolution.

-- approved two new Midland Fire Department squad rescue vehicles, one new Type-1 ambulance and a box refurbish and cabin chassis re-mounting for an existing ambulance.

Both squad rescue vehicles cost $213,400, the Type-1 ambulance costs $177,800 and the renovations to the existing ambulance costs $66,275, according to the council agenda.

Robert Patrick, general services director for the city, said the squad rescue vehicles are part of a new program that will use the vehicles in place of a fire pumper for medical calls.

-- considered one oil well and approved four wells within city limits.

The proposed well, by Petroplex Energy Inc., would be located on the west side of the extension of North Midkiff Road and a half mile north of the extension of Green Tree Boulevard.

The four approved wells, by Bluestem Energy Holdings, LLC, were all located by the North Midkiff Road and Mockingbird Lane intersection.

During the briefing session, Midland Police Chief Price Robinson proposed an armored personnel delivery/rescue vehicle for the city's SWAT unit. The item will be discussed at the next meeting.

Also during the briefing session, Steve Thorpe, building official, said the "Code Enforcement" department will be rebranded as "Code Compliance."

One of the new ways the city will handle property complaints is a warning system that begins with a green sign being placed on a building owner's front door warning them of a violation. After 35 days of non-compliance a police officer will visit the property.